Check out our Perfect Blue review, a film made in 1997, which recently released on Blu-ray via Anime Limited in the UK. More after the break.
Perfect Blue was directed by the late Satoshi Kon, in 1997, who sadly passed away August 10th, 2010 from pancreatic cancer. Going into the film I didn’t know what to expect, I mean some anime doesn’t age well; let’s be honest? That isn’t the case here. I was extremely impressed by the detail, and the Blu-ray does as much as possible to enhance the picture. Earlier today I also ranted about Fairy Tail Part 5 not having 5.1 sound, well guess what? PERFECT BLUE HAS 5.1!
The story is about a girl named Mima Kirigoe a former Pop Idol looking to become an actress. Upon entering the acting world she is quickly given more lines, and a rape scene in a TV drama. This, after her time as a Pop Idol, doesn’t resonate with an obsessed fan; who begins to pretend to be Mima on the internet. The lines of reality and delusion become blurred and the safety of her colleagues comes into question.
As mentioned, the storyline features actors simulating rape. This might be quite distressing for some, I’ll admit it wasn’t the most comfortable watch, and should be taken into account before purchasing. That said it also is relevant to the storyline, and asks many questions about Japanese celebrity culture. The life of female Japanese Pop Idols seems to be quite perverse if I’m honest. At times this feels like the anime equivalent of Black Swan, which obviously came later but you get what I mean.
Although, as mentioned, the storyline can be quite uncomfortable at times; it was a gripping watch. I found myself constantly questioning what was real, and what was illusion. Films that raise awareness are important too. I remember watching Bakuman and how harsh it was that female voice actors are persecuted if they have boyfriends. Perfect Blue presents the problem with ‘celebrity obsession’, and how constant attacks on a persons identity can cause mental distress.
Overall thoughts:
Perfect Blue is a strong film by today’s standards, even though it was made in 1997, and is well worth picking up on either Blu-ray or DVD.